Hazrat Aasim bin Dhamrah (rahimahullah) reports:
On one occasion, Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) addressed us saying, “Shall I inform you regarding the one who is regarded as a true Faqeeh? The true Faqeeh is the one who does not cause people to lose hope in the mercy of Allah Ta‘ala, and neither does he give them concession to engage in the disobedience of Allah Ta‘ala. The true Faqeeh does not make people feel secure regarding the punishment of Allah Ta‘ala, and he does not leave the Qur’aan Majeed for anything else besides it (i.e. he holds onto the teachings of the Qur’aan Majeed at all times).”
Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then said, “Know well that there is no good in that ibaadah (worship) which is carried out without the knowledge of deen, and there is no good in that deeni knowledge which is not accompanied with the correct understanding, and there is no good in that recitation (of the Qur’aan Majeed) which is carried out without pondering and reflection over its meanings.”
(Zuhd li-Abi Dawood #104)
